Clifton Park pair accused of welfare fraud

Clifton Park pair accused of welfare fraud

Two people face multiple felony charges for allegedly receiving more than $43,000 in welfare benefits through fraud, the Saratoga County Department of Social Services reported.

Mohammad Amir Haghdel, 46, and Sara Mohsenizadeth, 48, both of Clifton Park, were charged Tuesday with 12 counts of offering a false instrument for filing and single counts of third-degree grand larceny and third-degree welfare fraud.

The arrests were the result of an investigation by DSS Inv. Jessica Pietrzykoski.

The department said Haghdel was under a separate federal investigation for being illegally employed by an Iranian-sanctioned company, and that investigation uncovered evidence of welfare fraud.